German word

begreifen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈgʁaɪ̯fən/

Meaning

  • verbunderstand

Example

Ich begreife das nicht.

I don't understand that.

Illustration for begreifen (understand)

More examples

Nach dem Vortrag konnte ich das Konzept begreifen.

After the lecture, I was able to understand the concept.

Core concept

A foggy explanation becomes a solid shape held securely in the mind.

Common phrases

  • etwas begreifen

    understand something

  • den Sinn begreifen

    understand the meaning

Similar words

verstehen: Understand what someone says or what a text means.
kapieren: A casual expression for suddenly grasping something.
nachvollziehen: Understand someone's words or actions by following the reasoning behind them.
erfassen: Take in the essential points of information or a situation.

Definition in German

etwas klar im Kopf erfassen und gedanklich verstehen

Word origin

The verb combines the prefix be- with greifen 'to grasp', whose physical meaning developed into the figurative sense of grasping an idea.

Usage tips

  • Begreifen often suggests a fuller intellectual grasp than verstehen, while verstehen is the broader and more neutral everyday choice.

Other meanings

  • graspverb

Opposites

  • missverstehenmisunderstandverb
  • fehlinterpretierenmisinterpretverb

Related words

  • begreifbarunderstandableadjective
  • Begreifenunderstandingnoun

Word lists with this word